Scalp steamer



'Jan. 22, 1935. G GRO S 1,988,790

SCALP STEAMER Filed Nov. 13, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR BY ATTORNEY! w,%zi i i Jan. 22, 1935 c, G, GROSS 1,988,790

SCALP STEAMER Filed NOV. 13, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 v INVENTOR BY 44 ATTORNEY! Jan. 22, 1935. c GROSS 1,988,790

SCALP STEAMER Filed Nov. 13, 1931 5 Sheets$heet 3 INVENTOR BY ATTORNEY-Y Patented Jan. 22, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SCALP STEAMER Delaware Application November 13, 1931, Serial No. 574,693

3 Claims. (Cl. 219-38) The invention relates to scalp steamers, and, with regard to its more specific features, to movable steamers particularly adapted for use in barber shops and similar places.

An object of the invention is to provide an efficient scalp steamer. Another object of the invention is to provide a readily movable and adjustable scalp steamer. Another object of the invention is to provide an extremely safe scalp steamer. Another object of the invention is to provide a construction for scalp steamers permitting them to be readily assembled. Another object of the invention is to provide effective heat insulation for a scalp steamer. Other objects will be in part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts as will be exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is shown one of various possible embodiments of the mechanical features of this invention,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the steamer;

Figure 2 is a vertical axial sectional view of the upper portion of the steamer, the section being taken on the line 22 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a vertical axial sectional view of the water bottle and bottle holder, the section being taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view, in side elevation, of a portion of the water bottle, showing the cap and valve for it detached;

Figures 5, 6 and 7 are, respectively, a front elevation, a rearelevation and a vertical axial sectional view of the hood, detached from the steamer, the section plane of Figure 7 being indicated by the line '77 of Figure 5; and

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the hood showing a towel clamped in position thereon.

Referring first to the lower part of Figure 1, I provide a supporting stand 10 for the steamer which includes a central hub portion 11 having a plurality of legs 12 integrally formed therewith and extending therefrom. Still referring to Figure 1, the outer ends of thelegs 12 are supported by casters 13 which may be of any desired type.

Referring to the lower central portion of Figure 1, the hub 11 has a vertical bore 14 therein, this bore receiving a tubular upright 15 which may be securely held in place in the bore 14 by means, for example, of a set screw 16. The tubular upright member 15 receives a spring 17, the lower end of which is supported by the bottom of the bore 14, and the upward end of which presses aginst a disc 18.

Still referring to Figure 1, extending into the tubular member 15 is a tube or pipe 19, the lower end of which rests upon the disc 18, and is therefore supported by the spring 17.

Preferably the disc 18 is either integral with the pipe 19 or suitably secured to it. The pipe 19 is of substantially less diameter than the inside of the tubular member 15; tothe upper end of the tubular member 15 is attached a collar 20 which receives the pipe 19 with a sliding fit. Extending through the collar 20 is a set screw 21, by means of which the pipe 19 may be secured in any adjusted position.

Referring to the central portion of Figure 1 and also to the lower part of Figure 2, the upper portion of the pipe 19 receives a downwardly extending tubular stem 22a of a. supporting member 22 to which is attached the operative parts of the steamer. As will appear from the following description, the steam generating apparatus, the water supply bottle, the hood which goes over the patients head, and all associated parts, are supported by the member 22, an integral part of which is the stem 22a, and the spring 17 is tensioned to exert a thrust approximately equal to that of the above-mentioned parts and the pipe 19 when the washer 18 is in a central position in the tubular member 15. Thus, the entire apparatus may be very easily raised or lowered with respect to its supporting stand 10, as the weight thereof is taken by the spring 17, and when the apparatus has been raised or lowered to the desired height, the set screw 21 may be screwed in, thus holding the apparatus in that position. In the present preferred embodiment of the invention, the entire apparatus is free to move angularly because the stem 22a is rotatably supported by the pipe 19.

Still referring to the central portion of Figure 1 and the lower portion of Figure 2, the supporting member 22 is hollow, and at the upper end thereof is a circular seat 23 forming a socket to receive and support a seamless heat insulating jacket 24 in the form of a cylindrical shell. Referring now to the upper central portion of Figure 1 and the middle portion of Figure 2, upon the upper end of the insulating jacket 24 rests an annular metal cap 25. This cap 25 has an inner socket 26 receiving the insulating jacket 24; above the socket 26 and having a lesser diameter than it is an outer socket 27 for the support of a cylindrical shell or insulating jacket 28 which has a diameter less than that of the jacket 24. Seated upon the upper end of the jacket 28 is an annular disc 29 which has an outer socket 30 for the reception of the jacket 28. On the underside of the annular disc 29 is likewise formed an inner socket 31, which is coaxial with the outer socket 30, and a steam generating chamber 32 is received in this socket 31.

The steam generating chamber 32 is shown as a cylindrical shell, being preferably made of a noncorrosive metal such as brass, and being preferably firmly secured to the annular disc 29, as by soldering.

Referring again to the lower portion of Figure 2, to the bottom of the cylindrical shell 32 is secured a flanged cap 33, the outer flange 34 of which extends around and receives the cylindri-- cal shell 32. Extending upwardly from the central portion of the cap 33 is a cylindrical flange 35 which thus defines an internal cylindrical bore for the reception of a heating'unit 36.

The precise construction .of the heating unit 36 is not per se claimed herein. However, the heating unit 36 preferably includes a plurality of coils or other heating elements in order that the rate of steam generation may be varied. In one embodiment of the invention, the outer shell or covering of the heating unit 36 is made of brass and the unit 36 is secured to the inside of the flange 35 by means of solder, which makes a tight seal between these parts in order to effectually prevent leakage of water from the inside of the cylindrical shell 32. Likewise the cap 33 is preferably united to the cylindrical shell 32 by soldering, and the soldering operation may be effected by filling the annular trough formed by the cap 33 with molten solder and then inserting the cylindrical shell 32.

Referring now to the entire central portion of Figure 2, the annular disc 29 has a plurality of countersunk holes 38 therethrough which receive a plurality of bolts 39 that extend the entire length of the cylinder 32 and are located just outside of it. The lower ends of the bolts .39 are threaded and are screwed into threaded holes 40 in an annular inwardly extending integral flange 41 in the supporting member 22. The bolts 39 hold the disc 29, and therefore also the cylinder 32, to the supporting member 22, and

furthermore serve to hold together the jackets 24 and 28 and the metal cap 25, which parts are drawn together and united to the supporting member 22 by the act of screwing the bolts 39 into the threaded holes 40. This construction affords a ready means of assembling the parts, permitting use of seamless insulating jackets, and enclosing a substantial air space between these jackets and the steam generating cylinder 32, thus conserving heat energy. The bottom of the cylinder 32, and the entire heating unit 36, are free and clear of the supporting member 22 and the apparatus generally (except for negligible contact with the bolts 39) so that heat conduction at the bottom of the steam generating apparatus is practically eliminated. This is a feature of importance ,as it greatly reduces total heat losses at all times and particularly enables the water in the cylinder 32 to be kept for some time near the boiling point with the unit 36 de-energized.

Referring now to the central portion of Figure '1, the supporting member 22 has extending therefrom, to the right, a hollow integral portion 43 to which is fastened a switch 44 which may be operated by a rotatable button 45. On the underside of the hollow portion 43 and extending through it is a threaded hole in which is secured a socket nut 46 for the attachment of an electric cable 4'7 which may be housed in a flexible metal cable protector48 extending between the socket 46 and a ring 49. The outer end of the cable 47 is attached to an electric contact plug 50. Since the switch 44 is not per se my invention, I will not describe it in detail herein. The switch terminals and the individual wires of the electric cable 47 are connected together and to binding posts 51 extending downwardly into the member 22 from the resistance element 36, it being noted that varying quantities of steam may be generated by the apparatus by turning the button to a plurality of different positions opposite indications formed on the front beveled edge of a metal cover 52 on the switch 44. The wires connectingthe switch 44 with the binding posts 51 (of which there may be three or more) are housed inside the hollow supporting member 22 and inside of its hollow extension 43, and so are not visible to the eye, but may be readily reached for inspection or repair by removing the switch 44 which may be attached by bolts in the usual manner. It will be noted from an inspection of Figure 1 that the binding posts 51 extend downwardly below the level of the annular flange 41 and are thus readily accessible These binding posts 51 constitute threaded members having secured thereto the terminal wires of the element 36 and having thereon nuts for the ready attachment of wires.

Still referring to the central portion of Figure 1 and particularly to the right-hand side thereof, extending upwardly from the integral extension 43 of the supporting member 22 is an arm 53. This arm may also be formed integral with the extension 43 and the supporting member 22, and at its upper end is formed a flat-topped flange 54 for the support of a bowl-shaped bottle holder 55. Referring now to Figures 1 and 3, the bottle holder 55 may be formed of sheet metal and includes a flat bottom portion 56, a cylindrical liquid containing portion 5'7, and a wide cylindrical bottle holding portion 58 having a beaded top 59. A plurality of holes are formed in the bottom 56, and screws 60 attach it to the flat-topped flange 54, the screws 60 being desirably of the round headed variety having flat under portions to form a tight water seal and for a purpose to be hereinafter explained. 7

Still referring to Figures 1 and 3, a water hottle 61, preferably made of glass, constitutes a reservoir to supply water to the steam generating cylinder 32. The body of the'bottle 61 may be received in the cylindrical portion 58 of the bowlshaped bottle holder 55, and in order to render it easy to remove and insert any of a number of different bottles 61 in the bottle holder 55 (it being understood that glass bottles will naturally vary somewhat in diameter), a plurality of indentations 62 are made in the portion 58 of the bottle holder 55 forming buttons in the inside of this portion 58 to resiliently hold a bottle 61 in position. Referring now to the lower portion of Figure 3, the neck 63 of the bottle 61 is received in the portion 57 of the bottle holder 55.

Referring now to the lower portion of Figures 3 and 4, the neck 63 of the bottle 61 has screw thread means for the attachment of a bottle cap 64. Preferably the screw thread means takes the form of a plurality of segmental ridges 65 adapted to be engaged by a plurality of inwardly extending projections 66' formed on the cap 64. Referring more particularly to Figure 4, the cap 64 may be made of sheet metal and has a rim 67 which is indented inwardly at spaced intervals to form inwardly extending projections 66. For the purpose of permitting the cap 64 to be firmly gripped the periphery of the rim67 may be fluted as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4 shows the cap 64 and the bottle 61 in detached relationship, while Figure 3 shows the cap on the bottle. In order to secure the cap in position on the bottle, the cap is placed thereon and given a very slight turn. A washer 68 is interposed between the cap 64 and the mouth of the bottle 61,. and turning of the cap 64 causes the bottle mouth to compress the washer, thus forming a tight seal between the bottle and cap. Due to the fact that the threads 65 are engaged by the projections 66 at a plurality of points, the cap 64 is held very firmly in position.

Still referring to the lower portions of Figures 3 and 4, there is a central hole'70 in the cap 64 the rim of which may be slightly dished downwardly. Referring now to Figure 4, a conical valve 71 extends through this hole, and referring to Figures 3 and 4, this, valve 71 has a stem 72 on its underside and a stem 73 on its upper side. Fastened to the inside of the cap 64 is a U-shaped bracket 74 which appears in section in Figure 3 and in elevation in Figure 4, the plane of Figure 4 being 90 removed from the plane of Figure 3. The stem 73 of the valve 71 extends through a central hole in the upper portion of the bracket .74. Referring to Figure 3, between the valve 71 and the bracket 74 is interposed a spring 75.

The valve 71 in the cap 64 constitutes an automatic valve to make available the reserve of water in the bottle 61 to the steam generating cylinder 32, in case the steam generating cylinder 32 is filled up to the proper level, and to commence the feeding of water into the steam generating cylinder 32 in case it is not filled up to the proper level. With the bottle 61 out of the bottle holder 55, water will not escape from the bottle in any position thereof except when the valve 71 is moved. The act of placing the bottle 61- in the bottle holder 55 causes engagement of the stem 72 with the bottom 56 of the bottle holder 55, and the weight of the bottle 61 forces the valve 71 upwardly against the spring 75 which is a comparatively light spring. This immediately makes available the water supply to the inside of the bottle holder 55, but owing to the fact that the hole 70 is the only opening into the bottle 61, liquid cannot rise in the bottle holder 55 above the level of this hole 70, as whenever the hole 70 is closed by water no air can get into the inside of the bottle 61 and consequently water will stop running out of the bottle 61 when the difference of air pressure inside and outside of the bottle 61 balances the column of water therein. This is, of course, per se a known principle, and upon inversion of the bottle 61 the opening 70 in the cap constitutes with the bottle 61 and the bottle holder 55 an automatic level regulator to feed water until the level rises in the cylinder 32 to a line approximately that of the bottom of the cap 64.

Referring again to the central portion of Figure 1, wherein the bottom of the bottle holder 55 is shown broken away, extending from the bottom of the bottle holder 55 to the bottom of the steam generating cylinder 32 is a pipe 77. This pipe communicates with the inside of the bottle holder 55 and the inside of the steam generating cylinder 32, and is preferably soldered to each. The pipe passes through a notch 78 in the insulating jacket 24 and thus does not interfere with the seating of said jacket in the supporting member 22. Although the bottle holder 55 and the steam generating cylinder 32 are thus connected before the attachment of the bottle holder 55 to the arm 53, the arm 53 connects the parts much more rigidly.

Referring now to Figure 3 in connection with Figure 1, it will be noted that the pipe 77 extends to slightly above the bottom of the bottle holder 55 in order to make a good soldering connection, andthus a slight amount of water remains in the bottle holder 55 and will not drain out of it, which water might form a seal and prevent the escape of water from the bottle 61 if the orifice 70 were below the surface level thereof. The round headed screws 60 act to elevate the bottle 61 sufliciently to prevent this, even were the bottle 61 forced down below the position shown in Figure 3, which is, of course, entirely possible.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, it will be seen thatso long as any liquid remains in the bottle 61 water is maintained in the steam generating cylinder 32 up to the level indicated in Figure 2. The attendant can readily observe when the bottle 61 is empty and replace it with a full bottle, and it is contemplated that one machine may be served i by a number of bottles which can be filled at lei sure, the act of replacing one bottle with another being performed with no effort and not requiring interruption of the steaming operation. For the convenience of the operator, as well as to protect the bottles 61 from injury, caps 79 are provided which fit over the upper end of the bottles as viewed in Figure 3, or over the bottom of the bottles when they are standing upright. The caps 79 preferably have a beaded or rolled edge 80 and a counter-sunk flat bottom portion 31 which makes them resilient so that a bottle can be placed on a marble topped table or sink with considerable force without being broken.

Referring to the upper portion of Figures 1 and 2, attached to the top of the disc 29, which is located, as described, at the upper end of the steam generating cylinder 32, is a disc 83. Between this disc 83 and the disc 29 is a rubber washer 84. Between the washer 84 and the disc 29 is an annular flange 85 of a. hood 86. The hood 86 is thus attached to the steam generating cylinder 32 by the securing of the disc 83 to the disc 29, which maybe effected by means of screws 87, and the rubber washer 85 forms a tight seal between these members.

Still referring to the upper portion of Figure 2, the disc 29, as already noted, has a central hole 88 therein, and the rubber washer 84 as well as the flange 85 have concentric holes, thus forming a passage through to the disc 83 from the cylinder 32. The disc 83 likewise has a hole which, however, is semi-circular, the remaining half circle of the passage 88 being protected by a quarterspherical shell portion 90. This portion 90 is integral with the disc 83 and acts to deflect steam ascending from the steam generating cylinder 32 in one direction. The purpose of this spherical portion 90 will be more fully pointed out in connection with the description of the hood 86.

Referring now to Figures 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 and and particularly to Figure 7 for the details of construction, the hood 86 comprises a substantially hemispherical portion 91 and a broken cylindrical portion 92. These may be each made of pressed metal, preferably aluminum or one of itsv alloys. The inner surface of the hemispherical portion91 is broken by deflecting the metal to form a boss 93 merging therewith, the boss 93 in turn merging into the flange 85, whereby, as already described, the entire hood 86 is fastened in position upon the steam generating cylinder 32 and therefore upon the whole apparatus. As indicated. in Figure 7, one of the parts 91 or 92 (in this case the part 91) has 2. rolled bead 94, and the other part (in this case the part 92) has a flange 95, and the bead 9a is secured over the flange 95 to join the parts 91 and 92 in integral connection. The partial cylindrical portion 92 has the bottom thereof cut away to form a lower rim 96 and a horizontal edge 97 joined by a gently curved portion 98, leaving a front edge portion 99, and the portions 96, 97, 98 and 99 have a rolled or beaded continuous edge 100. The two sides of the portion 97 lie nearly across a diameter of the cylinder 92. Thus the portion 92 constitutes a long semi-cylindrical cover 101 merging into a short complete cylindrical portion 102, the edges being protected by the bead described. Referring now to Figure 5, the entire member 92 may be formed from a flat sheet, the edges being joined together by a bead 103.

The portion 101 is intended to cover the head of the customer being given a steam treatment. In order to facilitate placing the portion 101 over the head of the customer, as indicated in Figure 5, the front bottom edge of the semi-cylindrical portion 161 is preferably flared outwardly as indicated at 104, 104. Referring now to Figures and '7, between the portions 91 and 92, and held in position between the bead 94 and the flange 95 is a bafile 105 comprising a circular piece of flat metal with a large hole eccentrically located therein. The lower portion of the baffie 105 has somewhat the shape of a new moon, as best illustrated in Figure 5.

Referring now to the upper portion of Figure 1, it will be seen that the portion 90 of the disc 83 has an opening facing to the right, away from the opening of the hood 86. Ascending steam is thus directed to the right in Figure 1 and has a tendency to follow the surface of the hemispherical portion 91, thus being directed to the top of the semi-cylindrical portion 92 and to the top of the head of the customer. In case steam is generated too fast, or in case boiling. water escapes from the steam generating cylinder 32 for any cause, injury to the customer is effectually prevented by the bafiie 105, which at all events prevents boiling water from reaching the customer by reason of the large volume defined by the baffle 105, the depression 93 and the portion of the hemispherical member 91. Furthermore, the baffle 105 prevents direct action of the steam on the neck of the customer. Desirably the baiiie 105 and the portions 91 and 92 may be firmly united by the introduction of solder into the bead 94.

Referring now particularly to Figure 8, to the outside of the member 92 are secured towel clamps 106 which are preferably located so as to hold a towel approximately as indicated in Figure 8. This concentrates the action of the steam by limiting the escape thereof. The towel clamps 106 may be secured by rivets or in any other suitable manner.

When it is desired to use the apparatus of the invention it is rolled into position behind the chair in which the customer is sitting as already described. The'hood 86 may, be turned to the proper position by turning the whole apparatus on the axis of the portion 19, using the portion 43 as a lever. A' full water bottle should then be placed in the holder 55, which will act to fill the steam cylinder 32 to the level indicated in Figure 2. This having been done, the empty or partially empty water bottle may be replaced with a full one so as to insure a supply of water. The switch 45 should then be turned on to the position: desired for low, medium or high volume of steam. The apparatus may be rolled out of position until steam is being generated at the rate desired, whereupon it may be rolled back again,

with the part 92 over the customers head and with the portion 96 against the back of his neck. Steam will now issue from thetop of the hood 86, and it may be concentrated or confined as desired by the use of a towel, either in the manner indicated in Figure 8 or in some other manner.

It will thus beseen that there has been provided by this invention an apparatus in which the various objects hereinabove. set forth, together with many thoroughly practical advantages, are successfully achieved.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention, and as many changes might be made in the embodiment 'above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth, or "shown in the accompanying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In apparatus of the closs described wherein a steam generating cylinder is suspended within a supporting column by a flange, means to reduce the conduction of heat from the generating cylinder to the support, comprising, in combination, a steam generating cylinder adapted to be suspended from a flange near its upper end, a main supporting casting, and a plurality of cylindrical and annular sections having a common axis intermediate said flange and said supporting casting.

2. In apparatus of the class described wherein a steam generating cylinder is suspended within a supporting column by a flange, means to reduce the conduction of heat from the generating cylinder to the support, comprising, in combination, a steam generating cylinder adapted to be suspended from a flange near its upper end, a main supporting casting, and a plurality of tie rods in the annular space between the generating cylinder and the plurality of cylindrical and annular sections extending from the flange to the supporting casting.

3. In apparatus of the class described, a steam generating cylinder, an electric heating element secured therein, an annular disc secured to the top thereof said disc having a flange, a scalp steaming hood secured to the top of said annular disc, a washer assisting in the securing of said scalp steaming hood in position, a pair of insulating jackets upon one of which rests said annular disc, a ring upon which rests the upper of said insulating jackets, said ring resting upon the lower of said insulating jackets, a main supportfor said lower insulating jacket, an inwardly directed flange in said main support, a plurality of bolts connecting said flange to said annular disc for the attachment of the parts of the apparatus.

CARL G. GROSS. 

